Slovak MPs' plan to visit Crimea triggers controversy

The plan by a group of Slovak MPs to visit the Crimean peninsula in early August has triggered controversy. According to independent MP Peter Marček who organized the trip, they are going there "as private individuals to check the situation on the ground" but refused to name the members of his delegation other than independent MP Martina Šimkovičova. Later on Thursday he said in a post on social media that three MPs from the Smer party, the largest of the ruling coalition, were also taking part. They are coming at the invitation of Andrei Nazarov who is the Chairman of the Board of the Yalta Economic Forum and co-chair of Business Russia, one of the largest business associations in Russia. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia Yuriy Mushka warned that they risked violating Ukrainian law because of that. "I think they'll be banned from visiting Ukraine in the future," said Mushka, who has already written a letter to Slovak political parties, asking them to prevent their MPs from joining the trip. The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not happy about the MPs' visit either. "Slovakia recognizes the territorial integrity of Ukraine at its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea, and in view of the current situation in the Crimean peninsula, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recommend this visit," said the Ministry's spokesperson Peter Susko.